Ponte Caldelas

Ponte Caldelas
municipality
Official seal of Ponte Caldelas Seal
Ponte Caldelas Location in Spain
Coordinates:
Country	Spain
Autonomous community	Galicia
Province	Pontevedra
Comarca	Pontevedra
Government
• Mayor	Perfecto Rodríguez Muíños
Area
• Total	87 km2 (33.6 sq mi)
Population (2012)
• Total	5,739
• Density	66.0/km2 (170.8/sq mi)
Time zone	CET (UTC+1)
• Summer (DST)	CET (UTC+2)
Website	http://www.pontecaldelas.net

Ponte Caldelas is a municipality in Galicia, Spain in the province of Pontevedra. It takes its name from an ancient bridge over the Río Caldelas.

Etymology

The town is more than likely named after the old bridge over the river Verdugo, combined with its thermal springs (caldas originates from the Latin word calidae or hot in English).

Location

Ponte Caldelas is bounded to the north by the municipality of Cotobade, to the south by Fornelos de Montes and Soutomaior, to east by A Lama and to the west by the municipality of Pontevedra.

Parishes

Ponte Caldelas has nine parishes: Anceu, Barbudo, Caritel, Forzáns, A Insua, Ponte Caldelas, Taboadelo, Tourón and Xustáns.

History

In 1126 King Alfonso VII was granted the Loyalty title. On the other hand, says legend, the famous Queen Lupa, who persecuted the disciples of the apostle Santiago, was a native of this town and resided here. Later in the nineteenth century it was accorded the status of a Villa.

These lands were property of the cathedral of Santiago de Compostela. Gelmírez granted Ponte Caldelas privileges and franchises. In the past Ponte Caldelas belonged half to Tuy and half to the former province of Santiago.